Guidelines on dealing with suspicions or allegations of abuse in
relation to safeguarding vulnerable groups
1.
Definitions of Abuse
Abuse under the policy on safeguarding vulnerable groups includes1:

physical abuse, including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, or inappropriate
sanctions;

sexual abuse, including encouraging relevant individuals to look at
pornography, harassing them by making sexual suggestions or comments, or
sexual acts where the individual has not consented, or could not consent or
was pressured into consenting ;

psychological abuse, including emotional abuse, threats of harm or
abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling,
intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal
from services or supportive networks;

neglect and acts of omission, including ignoring medical or physical care
needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or
educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as
medication, adequate nutrition and heating; and

financial or material abuse, including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in
connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the
misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits;

discriminatory abuse, including racist, sexist, that based on a person’s
disability, and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment.
2.
Detecting abuse
There are a number of ways in which suspicions of abuse may be raised or actual
abuse brought to your attention:


A child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable situation may confide in you that
they are being abused
A colleague may report to you that a child/ young person/ adult in a
vulnerable situation has confided in them that they are being abused or that
they have a suspicion that a child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable
situation is being abused
1
Adapted from the Department of Health ‘No Secrets’ publication. See
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanc
e/DH_4008486
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



3.
A child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable situation may display signs of
physical abuse
The behaviour of, or a change in the behaviour of a child/young person/ adult
in a vulnerable situation, may suggest that they are being abused
A colleague may confide in you that they have abused a child/young person/
adult in a vulnerable situation
The behaviour of, or a change in the behaviour of a colleague, may suggest
that they are abusing a child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable situation
Dealing with a suspicion or awareness of abuse
If you have a suspicion or are aware that a child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable
situation is being abused you must act quickly but appropriately and professionally.
To assist in the reporting procedure please ensure that you:







DO
Be accessible and receptive.
Listen carefully.
Take it seriously.
Reassure the child/ young person/
adult in a vulnerable situation that
they are right to tell.
Negotiate getting help.
Find help quickly.
Make careful records of what was said
using the child's/young person’s/ adult
in a vulnerable situation’s own words
as soon as is practicable following the
disclosure. Date, time and sign the
record. This record would be used in
any subsequent legal proceedings.






DO NOT
Jump to conclusions.
Directly question the child or
adult in a vulnerable situation
or suggest words for him/her
to use.
Try to get the child/young
person/ adult in a vulnerable
situation to disclose all the
details.
Speculate or accuse anybody.
Make promises you cannot
keep.
Give your opinion; just state
the facts as reported to you.
If you suspect abuse has taken place or abuse has been brought to your attention
you are obliged to take action but you must also ensure at all times that the welfare
of the child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable situation is paramount and the
interests of the person against whom the allegation has been made are protected.
Where practicable you should obtain the following information:

Contact details for the child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable situation
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
Details of the allegation or suspicion including where known the name of the
alleged abuser and the circumstances, which brought the alleged abuse to
your attention
This information should be recorded on the attached form (see Annex A).
4.
Reporting suspicions or allegations of abuse
You should immediately report any suspicion or allegation of abuse to either the
Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions or the Director of Student
Services and Employability (where the person alleged to have been abused is a
student) or the Resourcing Manager (where the person alleged to have been abused
is a member of staff)2. If you wish to report an allegation or suspicion of abuse out of
hours please contact the University of Bristol Security Services.
Do not attempt to assess yourself whether or not the allegations are true and do not
attempt to deal with any suspicion or report of abuse yourself.
The Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions or the Director of
Student Services and Employability or the Resourcing Manager may3:

Provide appropriate support for the child/young person/ adult in a vulnerable
situation

Report the suspicion or allegation to the relevant agencies who may include
the Police and/or Social Services and/or Disclosure and Barring Service
(“DBS”)

Make a written record of the contact at any of these agencies to which the
case is reported

Provide appropriate support for the person against whom the allegation has
been made

Confirm to the person who originally reported the allegation that action has
been taken
5.
Person against whom the allegations have been made
The Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions or the Director of
Student Services and Employability or the Resourcing Manager may consider
whether it is appropriate to take action against the individual under either Ordinance
2
The exception to this procedure would be any activity, such as mentoring or outreach work
in schools, where any suspicions or allegations involving individuals that are not directly in the
care of the University should be reported in accordance with any safeguarding policy or
procedure that is established in the environment where this activity takes place. However, in
such circumstances where the suspicions or allegations are made against an individual who
is engaged in activity on behalf of the University, then the Director of Student Recruitment,
Access and Admissions or the Director of Student Services and Employability (where the
individual is a student) or the Resourcing Manager (where the individual is a member of staff)
should be informed.
3
This responsibility may be devolved as appropriate.
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28 where the suspicions or allegations are made against a member of staff, or the
Student Disciplinary Regulations where the suspicions or allegations are made
against a student. The individual will be notified in writing if any such action is to be
taken.
The University has a duty to take all allegations or suspicions of abuse seriously and
to take the appropriate action, including referral to the DBS. In light of this anyone
against whom an allegation has been made may be suspended from their
employment or studies whilst appropriate investigations are undertaken. If the DBS
subsequently bars a person against whom an allegation has been made (or at all),
the University will not be permitted to engage the individual in regulated activity.
However, the University will extend its full support to the individual by ensuring that
the line of communication remains open even where access to the University and its
facilities is limited or prohibited.
6.
Follow up Procedures
The Director of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions or the Director of
Student Services and Employability or the Resourcing Manager will confirm to you
the action that has been taken. If you feel that insufficient action has been taken and
you still have concerns for the safety and welfare of the child/young person/ adult in
a vulnerable situation you should report your suspicions or allegations again
explaining why you feel the action taken to date is insufficient.
7.
Data Protection
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, individuals have a right of access to personal
data that relates to them. This right of access may include a right to request access
to records (in whole or in part) relating to suspicions or allegations of abuse involving
the person making the request. Further information on data protection can be
accessed at:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/dataprotection
If any staff member receives a request from a person for access to personal data
(held either about that person or another individual) in relation to suspicions or
allegations of abuse, the request should be forwarded to the Information Rights
Officer. Further advice on data protection can be obtained from the Information
Rights Officer, University Secretary’s Office or via email to [email protected]
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ANNEX A
RECORD OF ALLEGATION OR SUSPICION OF ABUSE
Date & Time of Initial Report ………………………at …………………….
To: Responsible Person (Name):………………………………………………
Name of Complainant
Name and contact details of
Place of alleged abuse
Child/ Young Person/ Adult in
a vulnerable situation
Name(s) of people present…………………………………………………………
Details of Allegation or Suspicion
Please give as much information about the allegation or suspicion, including if you
suspect abuse what alerted your attention to the situation. Please include all
names of the people involved.
Name person reporting incident (capitals): ……………………………………
Signed:……………………………………… Date:………………………………..
Dept:………………………………………… Ext No: ………………………………
Email address:………………………………………………………………………
Please return to the Director of Student Services and Employability or the Director
of Student Recruitment, Access and Admissions or the Resourcing Manager
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